IPLOCA is the International Pipe Line and Offshore Contractors Association. APIA has been involved in and represented at IPLOCA for many years, and APIA Board member Andy Lukas has attended many IPLOCA functions. Andy has been appointed as the very first Australian President of IPLOCA, an honour which was announced at the Barcelona IPLOCA convention.

Also in attendance this year were Garry O’Meally, Ian Stuart-Robertson, Martin Green, David Wilson, Andrew Lukas Jnr, Phillippa Huxley, David Lukas and Donna Lukas.

APIA Chief Executive Cheryl Cartwright attended her first IPLOCA convention this year and had the opportunity to meet with her North American and European counterparts. She said it was a tremendous opportunity to learn about the pipeline construction industry from an international perspective and also to encourage the international group to come to Australia for the 2007 IPLOCA convention, to be held in Sydney from 1 to 5 October, which will be the first time the convention has been held down-under.

In the early 1960s, companies in the international pipeline construction industry recognised that they had many common interests and problems which could most effectively be addressed through the establishment of an industry association, leading to the inaugural meeting in Paris in 1966 where IPLOCA was formed. IPLOCA is a truly international organisation, featuring members from several continents. The organisation is now Geneva-based and a not for profit trade association.

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Members include the major international pipeline and offshore contractors as well as their subcontractors. There are 117 members. The Associate Members represent the suppliers of products, equipments and services offered to the industry. There are 127 Associate Members and also three Academic Members.

The aims of the Association today remain basically the same as they were when laid down in 1966. However, the industry has grown and changed significantly since then and IPLOCA is in the process of refreshing itself accordingly.

Some initiatives that IPLOCA has undertaken in the past include:

* Drafting, in association with FIDIC, the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, of a Standard Form of Contract; * Preparation of pipeline Standard Drawings; * Drafting of a model Pipeline Tender Format to reduce Tender qualifications; * A study, in association with the University of Gent, into Weld Defect Acceptance Criteria; * Drafting of Safety Guidelines; and * Drafting of Environmental Guidelines.

Current initiatives include:

* Research & Development program; * Risk sharing guidelines and initiatives; and * Working committees with major pipeline owners/developers.

“Of course, this work takes on a new significance when we consider that the activities cross international borders1– not just state borders,” Ms Cartwright said.

APIA plans to maintain its close links with IPLOCA and other important and relevant international associations.